Hundreds crowded the City Planning Commission’s sole public hearing today to voice opposition to NYU’s massive proposed Village expansion plan, including many NYU faculty and students as well as area residents. GVSHP urged the Commission to reject the plan (read our testimony HERE); GVSHP also submitted four studies to the Commission refuting several of NYU’s claims which form the basis of their arguments for approval of their plans:

A study commissioned by GVSHP by Gambit Consulting comparing the relative economic and environmental impacts of NYU’s proposed Village expansion and locating their expansion in the Financial District, Downtown Brooklyn, or Long Island City, which found that the drawbacks would be much greater and the benefits much lesser in the Village as compared to alternative locations – READ IT HERE.

A study conducted by GVSHP of how other schools and cities have established satellite campuses to accommodate university growth, rather than shoehorning more space into historic, residential neighborhoods as NYU is proposing -- READ IT HERE.

A study by GVSHP refuting NYU’s claim that their facilities must be concentrated within a 10-15 minute walk of Washington Square by showing how most schools across the country spread their facilities over much greater distances – READ IT HERE.

A study by GVSHP documenting how NYU has eliminated hundreds of faculty housing units over the years even as it is now asking for approvals to build more faculty housing, claiming they lack sufficient numbers of units – READ IT HERE.

You can also view photos of the hearing HERE and read coverage of the hearing HERE.

While this is the only planned public hearing by the Commission, you can submit written testimony to the Commission until May 7th. The Commission MUST approve the NYU plan in order for it to move ahead to the City Council, which must also approve it.